Pueblo County District Attorney Jeff Chostner said both were intended to clarify a person’s right to self-defense, and although the language of the two laws is similar, there are differences.

The Florida law has been part of the public discussion around the trial and acquittal of George Zimmerman in the death of 17-year-old Trayvon Martin.

Even President Barack Obama entered the conversation Friday with a 20-minute press conference about the court case and the Florida law.

Chostner said a major difference between the two laws is where the laws apply.

Chostner said the “Stand Your Ground” law is a basic, traditional law of self-defense.

Signed into law by Governor Jeb Bush in 2005, Florida’s “Stand Your Ground” not only authorizes deadly force in defense of a residence like Colorado’s “Make my Day” law does, but also changes the legal definition of self-defense for citizens who feel they are being confronted with deadly force or imminent danger anywhere.

“It gives individuals the right to use reasonable force to defend themselves without any requirement to evade or retreat from a dangerous situation,” Chostner said.

“For example, if a person attacks another person with a knife, the attacked person is entitled to stand his ground to defend himself. It makes sense — why should an innocent person who is attacked be required to change his behavior and flee from where he has a right to be?”

Chostner said it is the attacker that is the wrongdoer.

“As long as the victim only uses the degree of force needed to repel his attacker, he should be allowed to do so. If the victim’s life is in danger then he or she, the innocent victim, should be able to defend him or herself,” Chostner said.

Chostner said the wrongdoer shouldn’t be legally allowed to intimidate others and impose a legal obligation on the victim to flee.

Passed in 1985 , Colorado’s 28-year-old home- protection statute allows a homeowner the right to use deadly force if someone is unlawfully in their home.

The Colorado law says you don’t have to be in fear of imminent bodily injury or death from the intruder.

Chostner said “Make My Day,” differs from the Florida law because it specifically applies to self-defense in a person’s home.

“It gives the homeowner some additional protection for his family in the sanctity of their home,” he said.

Chostner said the Zimmerman trial ended with the correct result under Florida law.

“Zimmerman was where he had a right to be. He called the police to investigate a person acting suspiciously in his neighborhood,” Chostner said.

“There was credible evidence Martin attacked him (neighbor witness, about 7 people said it was Zimmerman who was crying out).”

Chostner said evidence showed that Zimmerman had injuries consistent with being attacked.

“(The) prosecution is required to disprove self-defense beyond a reasonable doubt, and they didn’t. There is clearly a reasonable doubt,” Chostner said.